Stabilized form of phosphorus pentoxide



v This invention relates to aphosphorus 'pentox- Patented June 2 5, 1935 c STABILIZED" FORM OF-PHOSPHORUS BENTOXIDE Boris Malishev, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Shell Development Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware .No Drawing. Application March 14, 1932, i Serial No. 598,887

5 Claims. (01. 23-243) ids-composition wherein the hygroscopicity of the phosphorus pentoxide is materially modified.

' Phosphorus pentoxide is a loose powder which 5 being extremelyhydroscopic is,diflicult to store except in hermetically sealed containers.- If exposed to humid air it is quickly changed by absorption of water to gelatinousmeta-phosphoric acid thereby losing the specific properties which it possessed as anhydride. For example, where it is desired to utilize the refining action of phos-. phorus pentoxide-such conversion to' the hydrated form of phosphorus pentoxide is not tolerable as v the hyd'rates do not possess the refining action l5 that is characteristic of the anhydride. Accord, ingly, protectiontof the phosphorus pentoxide against moisture is a necessity. Further, the hygroscopicity of phosphorus pentoxide'is a very objectionable factor for storage, transportation and handling. a

. To overcome these difficulties, it is proposed to incorporate the phosphorus pentoxide with a binder which is less hygroscopic than the phosphorus pentoxide and inert with respect to the anhydride under normal conditions. a f I'have found that phosphorus pentoxide can be utilized as a mixturewithheavy oils, such as heavy fuel oils, pitches, (mineral or vegetable) such as wood tar pitch, petroleum pitch, coal tar pitch,;Burgundy pitch and the like; tars} asphalts (natural or blown), bitumen, oxygenated mineral oils, waxes (natural or parafiinic) including beeswax, tallow, ozokerite, ceresine and the like; resins, gums, gum-'-resins, oleo-resins,

fatsQmineral oil residues; etc., or mixtures of the same. H The physical method of incorporation is not an essential factorof this'invention as the more or less intimate mixture may be obtained by various methods depending upon the character and quantity of the binderas well as on the sub-' sequent employment of the finished product.

After the phosphorus pentoxide has been incorporated with the binder the mixture may. be pressed into any desirableform such as bricks, briquettes and the like, which lend themselves to ease in handling, transportation and storage. v The manufactured article may be utilized as a refining agent in which case certain of the above enumerated binders may supplement and/ or enhance its refining ac'tion. In my copending case, Serial No. 505,200 filed December 27, 1930, now PatentNo. 1; 914353, June 20, 1933, I have described the use of the condensing and dehydrat ing properties of phosphorus pentoxide in conoils.

phosphorous pentoxide.

junction with binders in the refining of mineral Secondary agents such as mechanical disintegrators, solvents, and chemical agents may be incorporated with the stabilized phosphorus pentoxide as set out in my above-mentioned copending application. These agents may comprise sand, certain organic. oxy-compounds such as aldehydes, ketones and salts of organic acids comprising such compounds as benzophenone,

copper oleate, copper acetate, copper naphthenate and metallic halides such as FeClz, CuClz,

SbCls, etc. By way of example only, the hygroscopicity of phosphorus pentoxide in one of the above forms was tested. A mixture con .sisting of 30%- phosphorus pentoxide and asphalt was made. 20 grams each of the phosphorus pentoxide-asphalt mixture and phosphorus pentoxide were placed in an open dish and exposed to the air. posure, the phosphorus pentoxide-asphalt mix After hours of exture still. retained itsv loose powdered v form, whereas the phosphorus pentoxide was completely transformed into a liquid. I a

The manufactured article may be conveniently employed in certain dehydrating, condensing,

and other catalytic processes with substantial fats, waxes, resins, gums, tars, pitches, asphalts and heavy oils.

2. Stabilized phosphorus pentoxide comprising: Phosphorus pentoxide incorporated with a relatively inert binder oi asphaltic material whose hygroscopicity is less. than that of the 3. Stabilized phosphorus pentoxide compris-- 4. Stabilized phosphorus pentoxide compris- BORIS MALISHEVQ 

